UPDATE #3: SOS Meals on Wheels & COVID-19
April 11th will mark one month since t he World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Thankfully we are now seeing meaningful efforts on behalf of our government agencies and fellow community organizations to mitigate the impact of this unprecedented crisis on vulnerable populations like seniors and families, but also businesses and nonprofit organizations.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or "CARES Act" has been signed into law. The benefits are wide-ranging and include some opportunities for families and non-profits, including:

  • Expanded Emergency Family and Medical Leave 
  • Charitable giving incentive for individual and corporate donors--Please consult your tax advisor to determine how this may affect you.
  • Loans and other incentives to keep employees on payroll

For more information, see this Fact Sheet provided by Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
SOS Meals is the largest of the five Meals on Wheels programs that serve Alameda County. Like many essential services, we are still operating while under Alameda County shelter place in orders, still providing critically needed nutritious meal deliveries to seniors who cannot shop or prepare food because of a variety of reasons including poor health, immobility and poverty. With the onset of the pandemic, we have experienced a surge in urgent calls from seniors who are in fear of going hungry from not being able to shop for food, lack of a support system, an inability to compete with panic buying at stores, the closure of congregate meal sites for seniors.

In response, SOS Meals on Wheels has teamed up with Spectrum Community Services and LIFE ElderCare to maximize resources and coordinate efforts to ensure that vulnerable seniors continue to receive daily deliveries of nutritious meals with limited service interruptions. Here are a few of the things we are doing:

  • Partnered with Spectrum Community Services to provide pick-up meals for those who normally get meals from their Senior Meals dining sites
  • Spectrum Community Services and SOS have combined staff and begun working together in our San Leandro kitchen to meet the increased urgent demand.
  • Providing takeout! The Area Agency on Aging approved a request to allow takeout food that can be picked up from various locations throughout the county – Seniors who are mobile and can participate in meal pick-up are encouraged to do so, ensuring that meal delivery is reserved for those who are truly homebound and have no other means of accessing healthy, nutritious food.
  • To streamline intake, LIFE ElderCare set up a website: tricityatrisk.com, where people can sign up to “Provide help” (volunteers) or “Receive help” (seniors). We are matching volunteers 1-on-1 with seniors in their neighborhood. Oaklandatrisk.com is the same service for those residing in Oakland, Piedmont, San Leandro and Alameda.
  • Finally, we have relaxed eligibility requirements to include even those age 60+ who can normally cook for themselves but are now unable to get groceries.

All three agencies need healthy volunteers that can help deliver meals. If you are interested in learning more about how you can join us in supporting our senior neighbors during this critical time, please get in touch. If you are unable to volunteer, donations are also greatly needed at this time to keep these vital programs up and running. If you or someone you know is struggling to feed themselves right now, please contact us at 510-582-1263. We’re here to help.

We are proud to be working side-by-side with LIFE and Spectrum to provide comfort and sustenance for those in need during this extraordinary time.
STAY HOME. SAVE LIVES. CHECK IN.

Governor Newsom Launches Campaign to Protect Health and Well-Being of Older Californians During COVID-19 Pandemic

The campaign urges all Californians to check in on their older neighbors with a call, text or physically-distanced door knock to make sure they’re ok. The Governor also announced the creation of a statewide hotline —
833-544-2374
— in coordination with the non-profit local 2-1-1 systems, so that Californians have a one-stop shop to answer their questions and get assistance during this crisis. For example, the 2-1-1 system is able to help older Californians access grocery and medication delivery while staying at home.

“Social isolation can be difficult for older Californians even in the best of times,” said Kim McCoy Wade, director of the California Department of Aging. “We have to help aging Californians feel connected – and we must ensure we all have access to any needed services right now. This work will save lives.”
Of course there is much more to be done and we are likely a long way off from a time when life will be comfortable, look familiar again. It is my hope and my belief that we can come out the other end of this stronger, more compassionate, more connected. Let's keep imagining what that might look like and doing whatever we can to arrive there safely together.

Now go wash your hands.

Charlie Deterline, Executive Director